Matrix composing and line casting machine



Jan. 3, 1939. P. SCKRABEI" 2,142,337

MATRIX COMFOSING AND LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed Nbv. 11, 1937 v 2Sheet-Sheet l l/vmvr o/h 'Jan.3,193 9. C BE. 2,142,337

MATRIX CO MPOSING AND LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov., 11, 1937ZSheets-Sheet 2 l/vmvron.

62M MA Patented Jan. 3, 1939 umrro STATES PATENT OFFICE ApplicationNovember 11, 1937 Serial No. 174,037 In Germany May 15, 1937 V 10"Claims.

The invention relates toflmati ix composing and line casting machines.In modern "forms of such machines an arrangement is provided whereby oneor both vise jaws can be moved towards a short line of matrices in orderto quad out the line or centre it. When the quadding and centringmechanism is arranged to remain operatively connected continuously,means must be provided to render inoperative the compression of the linejof matrices and allow the spacebands. to become active so as to permitline Ijus'tification to the limit of the stops.

The main object of the present invention is to devise a machine whichwill allow such action to take place and "with this end in view theinvention consists in a typo'grapl'iical composing and slug castingmachine comprising means, 'operated by the line j'ustificationmechanism, whereby the jaws are positively Separated to a prearrangedextent if the line between them is not less than a prearranged length,said "means being arranged to remain inoperative if the cornposed lineis less th'an the prearranged length.

The invention will be clearly understood from y the followingdescription of "one form (given,

however, merely by way of example) which it may assume, andfthedescription will be more readily followed by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is' a view of the upper part of the vise frame fitted with thearrangement according to the invention;

"igure 2 is a separate view of the arrangement according to theinvention as seen from the front;

Figure 3 is the same arrangement from the rear, that is, as seen fromthe interior; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of Figure '2 or 3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings herewith, 2 isa portion of the vise frame wherein are guided the left hand vise jaw 4and right hand vise jaw 5. By means of links 6 and i the jaws areconnected to two angle levers 8 and 9, which are mounted on pivots IO inthe vise frame. The two inwardly projecting arms of the levers 8 and 9may be coupled to a vertically movable rod [3. The rod 9.3 after theline of matrices has been introduced between the jaws 4 and "5, performsa downward movement under the action of a spring and thereby draws thetwo jaws against the line of matrices.

On the angle lever 9 which is used for controlling the right-hand jaw,there is provided an abutment 26, which is adapted to contact with anabutment -21 on one of the justification rods T8. I

' As shown in Figures 3 and '4, the abutment 2B is mounted on alever 29, which is pivotally mounted on a slidable member 30. The slidablemember is guided grooves between two ledges 3i and 32 on the lever 9 andis provided with an inclined slot 33, in which engages a pin fitted tothe end of a vertically guided rod 34, A link 35 connects the lower endof the said pin to the end of a crank 36, mounted on a shaft 31 which islocated in two jou'rnalled members 38 and 39 fast to the lever '9, andcarries at its end an adjustable knob 40. The crank is provided with M.a scale which co-operates with a pointer El fast is to the machineframe. Upon the shaft 37 is also provided a locking wheel 42 adapted toco-operate with a spring controlled pin 43. The divisions of the lockingwheelare such that the engagement of the pin 43 in the respectivetoothed notches correspond with different adjustments.

The lever '29 carrying the abutment '26 is held, by a spring 14 attachedat one end to the lever and at the other end to the slidable member3'9,- against an abutment 45 which is itself re- 25 sili'ently locatedon the slidable member.

The mode of operation of the device is as follows:

When the justification mechanism is moved upwardly the abutment 21, fastto the top end of the justification rod, comes into contact with theabutment 26. Both abutments at their top and bottom ends converge toapoint. If the abutment 2B in Figure 3 lies on the right-hand sideof theabutment 21, the abutment Ti, when the justifier moves upwardly, rocksthe abutment 2S and the lever 29 against the action of the spring 44.The abutment 26 is thus made to yieldand the upward movement of thejustifier can take place without exerting any influence on the lever 9.During the downward movement, an outward swinging again takes place andthe lever 29 withthe abutment 26 returns into the initial position. Ifon the other hand the abutment 26, as indicated in Figure 3, is somewhatto the left of the abutment 21, the abutment 2?, (when the upwardmovement of the justifier takes place), presses against the abutment 26and the latter takes with it through the abutment 4'5, the slider 38 andwith the latter the whole lever 9. The slider 30 in its temporaryposition, is prevented from moving laterallyreiatively to the lever 9,by the pin of the rod 34 which engages the groove 33, the rod 34 itselfbeing -'secure from lateral displacement to the fixed stop at the end ofthe line, so as not to hinder in any way the justification of the lineto its fullest possible length.

By turning the knob 40, the slidable member and therewith also the lever29 with the abutment 26 can be displaced. According to the length of thefull lines it is desired to set, the abutment 26 is adjusted furthertowards the centre of the line or towards the end. The turning of theknob causes the rod 34 to be raised or lowered, and through the motionof the pin fast to the rod 34 in the inclined groove 33, the slidablemember 30 is moved in a horizontal direction. If very long lines are tobe dealt with, the spider 30 in Figure 2 is moved towards the extremeright, and is then located in relation to the composed line at itsoutermost point. In these circumstances when the jaws close it is onlyable to pass the abutment 21 if a comparatively large space, generallymore than 3 ems, has been left free of matrices in the line. Thespreading action of the spacebands is usually sufficient to produce lineexpansion up to 3 ems. If the composed line is shorter by less than themaximum of 3 ems of the adjusted full line length, the abutment 26remains on the outside of the abutment 21, and, when the justificationrod moves upwardly, the abutment 21 contacts with the abutment 26 insuch a manner that it forces the latter (and therewith the lever 9) awayfrom the line, and locates the jaw on the adjusted stop. If on the otherhand, the free space in the line is more than 3 ems the abutment 21rises upwardly on the left-hand side of the abutment 26 in Figure 3 anda mere outward swinging of the lever 29 carrying the abutment 26 takesplace. The jaw then remains in contact with the line, and a quadded lineis cast in the usual manner.

In the case of short lines, the slidable member 33 is adjusted to theleft by turning the knob (Figure 2) for instance to the extent of 2 or 1cm or less. In this case the casting of a quadded line takes place ifthe composed line differs to the extent of more than 2 or 1 em in excessof the adjusted size, from the length of a full line, whereas so long asthe lines difi'er to the extent of less than the adjusted size from thefull line length, the jaws are withdrawn and a full line'is cast.

The adjustment to 1, 2 or 3 ems is necessary in order to adapt thearrangement to different line lengths. Since, according to theadjustment to 1, 2 or 3 ems, the extent to which the lever 9 can travelto the stop, is variable, the yielding capacity of the abutment pin isnecessary. The further movement of the lever 29, when the jaw reachesthe terminal abutment, is therefore. taken up by the spring of theabutment pin 45.

The inclination of the slot 33 must be such that a self-locking actiontakes place, and must not allow a displacement out of the adjustedposition, due for example to the pressure against the slidable member.

The slidable member 30 in addition to the pertinent adjusting mechanism,may be fitted to any other convenient part of the mechanism or to thejaws themselves. A corresponding lug is then provided on thejustification mechanism, carrying an abutment adapted to come intocontact with the abutment 26. The preferred constructional form however,is that illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Having described my invention, I declare that what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A typographical composing and slug casting machine comprising jawsadapted to be moved inwards to clamp a composed line of matrices andspacebands, justifying mechanism to justify the line, and means distinctfrom the spacebands operated by said justifying mechanism whereby thejaws are positively separated to a prearranged extent if the linebetween them is of not less than a prearranged length, said means beingarranged to remain inoperative if the composed line is of less than saidprearranged length.

2. 'A typographical composing and slug casting machine according toclaim 1 wherein said jaws are separated to the extent defining a fulllength line when the composed line falls short of full length by notmore than a prearranged amount.

3. A typographical composing and slug casting machine comprising jawsadapted to be moved in- Wards to'clamp'a composed line of matrices andspacebands, jaw operating devices, a line justification mechanism,abutments distinct from the spaoebands in association with saidjustification mechanism and with at least one of said jaws, adapted,upon initial clamping by the jaws of a line of appropriate length, toassume co-operating positions such that, upon operation of thejustification mechanism, their engagement effects separation of thejaws.

4. A typographical composing and slug casting machine according to claim3 wherein said abutments have inclined surfaces upon engagement of whichsaid jaw separation is effected.

5. A typographical composing or slug casting machine according to claim3 comprising an abutment carried by a jaw operating lever adapted,according to the position assumed by said jaw upon initial clamping ofthe line, to take up a position in which it is engaged by the abutmentof the justifying mechanism on one or other side depending upon thelength of the line clamped by the jaws.

6. A typographical composing or slug casting machine comprising lineclamping jaws, and operating levers, therefor, a line justificationmechanism, a short lever pivoted to one of said jaw operating levers, anabutment on the free end of said short lever, and an abutment on saidjustification mechanism adapted, when said justification mechanism isoperated, to engage on one or other side of said first-mentionedabutment according to the length of line clamped between the jaws, andthereby to separate the jaws, if the line is of not less thanprearranged'length, or to fail to separate the jaws, if the line is ofless than said prearranged length.

7. A typographical composing and slug casting machine according to claim6 wherein means are provided such that any tendency to swing said shortlever about its pivot in one direction causes movement of said jawoperating lever to separate the jaws, while said short lever can swingfreely in the opposite direction about its pivot, without moving the jawlever.

8. A typographical composing and slug casting machine comprising lineclamping jaws and operating levers therefor, an. abutment mounted uponand laterally adjustable relatively to one of said levers, a linejustifying mechanism, and an abutment thereon, adapted, uponjustification of the line, to engage said abutment on said jaw operatinglever if the line is of less than a prearranged length, and thereby toseparate the aws.

9. A typographical composing and slug casting machine according to claim8 wherein said ad-

